Baltimore’s Late Penalty Rescues Chelsea as Twente Push the Champions to the Edge

The UEFA Women’s Champions League continues to test even the most dominant clubs, and Chelsea once again found themselves chasing a dream that remains just out of reach. In Enschede, the Women’s Super League champions were held to a 1–1 draw by an inspired FC Twente side — a result that served as both a warning and a wake-up call for a team obsessed with Europe’s biggest prize.

Despite commanding much of the ball, Chelsea failed to translate possession into precision. Twente, organised and resilient, drew first blood through their captain Danique van Ginkel, before Sandy Baltimore converted a late penalty to spare the English side from an opening-day defeat.

A New Era, Familiar Frustrations

For Chelsea, the Women’s Champions League remains the final frontier. Under Emma Hayes, they conquered England — sweeping league titles and domestic cups — but Europe’s crown continued to elude them. Their closest brush came in 2021 when they fell to Barcelona in the final, followed by three consecutive semi-final exits, including last season’s crushing 8–2 aggregate loss to the same Catalan powerhouse.

Now, under new manager Sonia Bompastor, expectations are sky-high. Yet, as Bompastor admitted post-match, the start was far from what she envisioned.

“It’s not a good result at all,” she told Disney+. “We wanted to start the campaign with three points. Out of possession, I’m quite happy with the performance — but in possession, especially inside the box, we must show more desire.”

Twente’s Tactical Evolution

Twente’s approach was a masterclass in discipline and collective spirit. Rather than trying to mirror Chelsea’s pressing intensity, they absorbed pressure intelligently, relying on compact defensive lines and quick transitions. Goalkeeper Diede Lemey was instrumental, producing a series of sharp saves that frustrated the English champions.

It wasn’t just resistance; it was evolution. The same fixture last season ended with Chelsea comfortably beating Twente 9–2 on aggregate. This time, Van Ginkel’s side looked sharper, wiser, and far more composed under pressure.

“We’ve made big, big steps,” Van Ginkel said after the match. “We fought as a team, the plan was good, and I’m really proud of how we defended.”

Their opening goal — a cleanly struck finish from Van Ginkel after a clever cutback by Jill Roord — reflected both composure and confidence. For a team often overshadowed in European competition, it was a moment of validation.

Chelsea’s Balancing Act

Bompastor rotated heavily for the match, fielding only four players from the starting XI that faced Manchester United days earlier. The move, meant to test squad depth and freshness, seemed to disrupt Chelsea’s rhythm. The Blues looked dominant but lacked sharpness in the final third — a recurring issue that has haunted their European campaigns.

Still, the new league-phase format of the Women’s Champions League offers room to recover. Unlike the traditional group stage, teams now play across a league system, mirroring the men’s competition and giving more consistent tests throughout the campaign.

Baltimore’s equaliser from the penalty spot — calm, clinical, and crucial — may not erase Chelsea’s early flaws, but it keeps their ambitions intact. As the French winger stepped up under pressure, her composure embodied the professionalism that continues to define women’s football at the highest level.

The Bigger Picture: Women’s Football Rising

Beyond the scoreline, the match symbolised something larger — the growing depth and unpredictability of women’s football in Europe. Once considered underdogs, clubs like Twente are now equipped with tactical awareness, physical preparation, and belief to challenge the continent’s elite.

Chelsea’s draw wasn’t merely a setback; it was proof that the Women’s Champions League has evolved into one of the most competitive tournaments in the world.

The professionalism on display — from Lemey’s goalkeeping heroics to Van Ginkel’s leadership and Baltimore’s late-game nerve — underscores a reality: women’s football is no longer defined by a few dominant teams. It’s a global contest, with new narratives being written every week.

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